Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-06
FRANK HUNTOON.
He is Said to be New York's Most Nota-
be Gambler To-day.
From Ito Chicagv Tribune.

Fran tho Chicagv r. hume.
Baccarat is to-day by long odds the favorl re
gambling game with New YORK men about
town who are addicted to plunglng. There
are several so-called proprietary Clubs" in
Capt. Williams' precnt which sport baccarat
boards, and the sums which are nightly los /
ana won At the tables are phenOmeDally large.
A few lights ago, for instance at the bacca-
rat game In the Carlton CLUB. IS West TWen-
tv-iltth street. Frank HuntOOn. the proprietor
OF the ciuu. won 1000. while Col. Brown, the
publisher of the New York Daily News, l0et
$lU GOO and Lem Pomeroy, well known com
mission merchant dropped very nearly the
same amount. When about TO retire from the
table Huntoon offered to flip Il copper with
any one present for S25, 900. No one, however.
took up the offer.
The club at No. IS is the most fashionable
and select of all the Proprietary Clubs at
which baccarat is played. IL is sumptuously
httcd up; the swalow-tailed waters are as
thick as at DelmOnico's, and at midnight an
elaborate supper Is served free of charge.
Theoretically the ''ciub' is only for DoLa
nde mem bers. but practically 1t Is pen TO any
one backed by an in reduction. Frank Hun
toon. the proprietor of this sumptuous ana
well appointed resort, is a professional gam.
bier with quite liable care r. he is sara
to be of New England extraction. and hrst
figured in New York as the proprietor OF a
certain well appointed private poker room,
which he conducted in the house adjoining %
West Twenty fifth street. The rooms got to
be known as places where merchants,
men about town, and young
men holding responsible positions
could play game of poker for whatever
stakes they might desire without fear OF I'M
pl asant interruption and with the assurance
that every precautfon was being taken TO in
sure privacy. SO well did the prlVate poker
rooms pay that when, few months ago, the
Carlton Club, which was maintained by joe
Chamberlain. went out OF existence, Mr.. Hun
toOn rem ed the building, and the Proprietary
Club,wfth baccarat AS the leading attraction,
sprang into life. The name Carlton Club still
stands over the hall door and upon the door
mat. The scenes nightly TO be witnessed at
Club, which club, 1t will be remem bered, WAS
disOanded IN consequence of the scandal
which grew out of he number OF suicides
among the jounesse dore members, OWING 10
heavy losses at play.
In appearance Huntoon 10 a magnificent
specimen of manhood. He is some ieet
inches in height, with broad, square-cut
shoulders. MASSIVE chest, and a well-knit,
muscular figure. He has large blue eyes aud
high color. His manners are very suaye,
easy and dignihed. and he dresses with much
elegance. HIS mode of living verges on regal
extravaganza, his personal expenses exceed
ing $50 900 year. When he goes of on au &C
caslonal spree favorite form of amusement
with HIM 10 to load his pockets with silver
pieces and pelt the jingling coins at the heads
OF the barkeepers ami hangers on in any of
the salOons he may chance to visit. Among
n W YORK gamesters he is regarded as the
professional gambler par excellence of mod
ern life.